Oplas X

Oplas (Operation Plastic) X

Identification

Background

According to data of Dinas Lingkungan Hidup Provinsi Bali, data on plastic waste piles in Bali reached 856.2 tons per day in 2019. Plastic waste that can be handled properly reaches 419.5 tons per day or 49 percent of the total plastic waste in Bali. However, there is also plastic waste that has not been handled properly, reaching 436.7 tons per day. Garbage that is not handled properly amounting to 179.8 tons per day must be thrown away or abandoned into residential areas. There are 162.7 tons per day of plastic waste that is burned because the waste can not be handled properly and 94.2 tons per day is thrown into waterways to the sea. (sources: https://data.tempo.co/data/808/penanganan-sampah-plastik-di-bali-2019) [1]

Plastic Exchange Logo

Seeing the pollution of plastic waste in Bali, I Made Janur Yasa make Plastic Exchange initiative with the community in the banjar to sort plastic waste and collect it in the banjar.

Plastic Exchange.org has a mission to empower communities to prosper through education in action and a barter system for a cleaner and healthier environment. They do barter plastic waste with basic groceries for helping the community amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The idea is clear: Plastic for rice.

Why barter plastic for rice? Why not with money?

In most region in Indonesia, in this case in Bali, rice is staple food needed by the community. Exchanging plastic with rice/not with money because I Made Janur Yasa as the founder of Plastic Exchange does not want to teach consumptive behavior to the community. In addition, a lot of rice is also produced from local MSMEs, sale in warung, thus driving the village economy. This new barter program would turn the problem of environmental pollution into an opportunity to use plastic trash as a currency for food.

At the core of the Plastic Exchange initiative is:

1. Dignity: a sense of pride and self-worth that by working together we can create a better future for ourselves;
2. Prosperity: an ability to alleviate immediate economic hardship and an aim toward long term success;
3. Environment: an impactful approach to tackling a major environmental issue through a cultural shift in behaviour (placing a value on trash = scouring home and hillsides of any plastic waste = people young and old contributing to the sustenance of their households of their own volition and toil = a sense of pride and independence).

Plastic Exchange Website

Existing condition

Plastic Exchange's stakeholders consist of 5 elements. There are:

1. Volunteers
2. Donors
3. Community
4. Scavengers
5. Plastic Exchange team

Every stakeholder has their roles in Plastic Exchange program. In the existing condition, each stakeholder has the following roles: volunteers have the task of being a liaison between the scavengers team and the community, preparing plastic transportation schedules, gathering community, and recording plastic collected by community. While, donors make donations, usually in the form of money to the Plastic Exchange team to finance team operations, and purchase groceries. The community has a role to sort plastic and non-plastic waste, collect plastic waste within a certain period of time in their homes, and give it to volunteers.

Scavenger pick up plastic from community, sorting it in warehouses, and selling it to recycling companies. The Plastic Exchange team recorded the performance of the village, conducted education and training (education in action/educating by example), and manages donations from donors and basic groceries for bartering.

All the process, they do in manually. Volunteers record the plastic in the papers, then Plastic Exchange team has to typing in excel. The donors can make donations through the plasticexchange.org website but the recording is done manually, and the report has not been given to the donors in a transparent and periodically. The collection schedule has been made periodically, but it is only known by the people in the banjar, not widely known. So that this initiative cannot be carried out regularly in other communities, or cannot be carried out by private/non-group waste collectors.

There are 6.585 members of Plastic Exchange (up to May 2021) spreads in 43 communities located in 10 districts of Bali. Some of the largest communities are Desa Batuan (823 members), Banjar Gelogor (547 members), Banjar Abiansemal Kaja Kauh (510 members) and Banjar Blahtanah (501 members). The detailed list and district location map are shown below.

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"800px","height":"300px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":false,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.6690436,"lon":115.4492487,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.334584,"lon":115.6409359,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.5835837,"lon":115.2765404,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.56702725,"lon":115.27426614289,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.561161,"lon":115.2994536,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.6123342,"lon":115.2853367,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.5513979,"lon":115.0773302,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.5521642,"lon":115.2608298,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.51284585,"lon":115.29280847536,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.4900421,"lon":115.2982255,"icon":""},{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-8.5068977,"lon":115.2622931,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Framework Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

As previously explained in the Existing Condition chapter that the Plastic Exchange has 5 stakeholders, namely: volunteers, community, contributors, scavengers, and the plastic exchange team itself.

From discussions with the Plastic Exchange founder, we concluded that there was a need to expand the reach of this Plastic Exchange initiative, but Plastic Exchange is still having problems with manual waste recording, the schedule is also done manually, and the program is not widely known.

Problem Analysis

We use iceberg diagram to define the problem of plastic waste management from Plastic Exchange perspective. We understand that the large amount of plastic waste is the result of human actions that do not understand that plastic can be recycled. After we meet our stakeholder, Plastic Exchange, we understand that community can be empowered to reduce plastic waste through the collection of plastic waste in exchange for groceries.

File:Iceberg.jpeg

Iceberg Diagram

Event

What is happening?

People produce waste, people use plastic for single use and throw it away without going through sorting and recycling.

React

What can be done to deal with it?

Reducing the volume & negative impact of waste production.

Pattern and Trend

What can we find if we look over time and space?

reducing waste and in the same time increasing people's welfare because there will be healthy environment.

Reframe

We Can be Done to anticipate it?

Community empowerment to exchange plastic with groceries.

System structure

How are the parts related? What influences the patterns?

Stakeholders of Plastic Exchange: volunteers, communities, donors, scavengers, Plastic Exchange team.

Mental Model

What assumptions, values, and beliefs shape the system?

improving environmental cleanliness, increasing welfare, opening alternative employment opportunities.

Redesign

We Can be Done to prevent it

To simplify management of Plastic Exchange, we offer solutions for using application. This application will help to record plastic collection, make schedule plastic exchange event, open wider opportunities for communities and volunteers who want to join the plastic exchange movement.

In conclusion, we offer a solution for using of ICT on solving dignity-economy-environment problem in Plastic Exchange initiatives. So, we hope Plastic Exchange can expand its initiatives.

Project Output and Outcome

Timeline

Timeline Project

The project timeline is information that contains a plan of work, and stages of work. Timeline is needed to monitor project progress. The project timeline is divided into 3 stages of work: identification, problem analysis, and project outcome.

1. Identification: we prepare our work plan, and meet with Plastic Exchange stakeholder for get the information about Plastic Exchange program.
2. Problem analysis: we conduct analysis based on stakeholder findings, and conduct research.
3. Project outcome: we discuss the initiation concept, develop a mock up, and prepare a written report.

This matrix show the project timeline.

Logical Framework Approach

File:Logical Framework Approach Oplas X.jpeg

Logical Framework Approach

Logical Framework Approach is an analytical tool in the planning, implementing and evaluation of a project using a logical approach. The Logical Framework Approach is a set of interlocking concepts such as inputs-activities-outputs-outcomes-impacts, that must be used together in a dynamic fashion to develop a well-designed, objectively-described, and measurable project.

In the table as shown here describes the Logical Framework Approach of this project.

Logic Frame
Problem Statement:
Plasticexchange.org wants to rebuild dignity, economy, and environment simultaneously among the community but they have problem for managing administration especially data plastic collection (slow and manual).
GOAL:
Utilizing user-friendly application/digital platform to expand and accelerate Plastic Exchange community development to reduce plastic waste in Indonesia
Rationale To have digital data colletion Assumption Adequate volunteer team record data digitally Historical data will be taken from the existing organizer. The project will assume that its credibility is already verified by the existing organizer. Stable ICT and connectivity	INPUT ACTIVITY OUTPUT Training for volunteer Collecting event Donors scheme Implement training for application utilization Number of collecting plastic services Amount of donors Numbers of gadget use for recording data Business process and mock up for Plastic Exchange Application	OUTCOMES IMPACT More effective and efficient Plastic Exchange data collection Data transparency Plastic exchange data can be one of input data for DSS to government Reducing plastic usage

Conceptual Improvement

File:Konsep Solusi.jpeg

Concept Improvement

Based on findings from stakeholders analysis, we will help Plastic Exchange to improve and complement the existing website functions, with a simple application on a smartphone. This application will have the function:

1. Creating smart system that help to record and document the activities during exchange
2. Creating system based on community to improve engagement with volunteer candidate and existing volunteer, allowing volunteer replication not just in Bali
3. Provide easy access for donor to contribute (e.g. via CSR program) and create auditability of the program to the donor
4. Manage recycler access to the program and support logistic of plastic to the recycler programs.

Vee diagram

We use the Vee diagram to visualize our project dvelopment as shown here. The project stage is explained as follows:

File:Vee diagram.jpeg

Vee diagram

1. Start with mapping stakeholder & their needs, to provide essential support for plastic exchange events and administration.
2. From stakeholder findings, we formulate the requirements for connecting data between stakeholders and/or partners using user-friendly system/platform.
3. Designing Plastic Exchange Smart System. The system has functions for collecting data digitally, recording transactions, managing stakeholders & communities, managing inventory, and provide contribution and/or donation program.
4. Development application based on stakeholders requirement and approval.
5. User acceptance test is part of testing Plastic Exchange Smart system features and functions. This activity will be done by the stakholder and the IT developer.
6. Demonstration the BETA or DEMO Version for further improvement
7. Launch and Implement the Plastic Exchange Smart System to meet Stakeholder Needs.

At every stages of the project development, there will be requirement for feedback, validation, confirmation, and verification between the stakeholders and the future application developer.

Outcome

File:Mock Up Preview.jpeg

Mock up preview

Plastic Exchange application will have 4 systems consist of:

1. Plastic Exchange Communication Platform for community. Plastic exchange can take benefit from the mobile platform to communicate about event, program, idea, knowledge, reward systems for encourage participation, social media engagement, plastic exchange community for sharing ideas, and reach bigger audience.
2. Smart System Input for volunteers. System will help input the data, calculate the reward automatically, fast based on pre configured rule that can also become adaptive e.g. first timer will get better reward to encourage future participation, scheduling.
3. Contribution Program for contributors. Plastic exchange will create interesting donation package to attract and engage to be donor. System then publish the programs so donors can easily access, educated, and contribute to the program. The system is also equipped with reports to contributors, and a reward system reporting for encourage and increase contributors loyalty.
4. Management dashboard system. Dashboard system will help Plastic Exchange management for managing event, match making between contributors with community, creating public report for plastic collections, amount of funding, etc.

Oplas X

Who We Are

Happy Digital X presents Oplas X, a team that aims to help the Plastic Exchange program to change the world. Our members:

1. Kurnia Widiastuti, FT UGM (Team Leader)
2. Sajidin, Bappeda Sumedang (Vice Team Leader/Thread 2 Learning PIC)
3. Febrian Aris Rosadi (ICT Leader)
4. Kusman Diana, BKPSDM (Thread 1 Learning PIC)
5. Erwin Perangin, Bank BTN (Thread 3 Learning PIC)
6. Angga Dwi Utama, Jasa Marga (Thread 4 Learning PIC)
7. Arief W., Bank BNI (Thread 4 Learning member)
8. Ade Dimijanty, BAKTI Kominfo (Thread 5 Learning PIC)
9. Ari S. Wahyuniarti, BAKTI Kominfo (Thread 6 Learning PIC)

Appendix

External Research

Plastic waste has become the world’s biggest issue in terms of the negative impacts it has caused to the environment. Initiatives to reduce the use of plastic and to clean the environment from plastic waste are of paramount importance as shown by many organizations and communities’ involvement in various related programs. From United Nations to European Environment Agency supported programs; from the use of Seabin to Drone technology to clean up plastic pollution; from industry to community initiatives to reduce plastic waste; each one of them has shown the growing concerns how to handle this issue immediately. Taking into account that similar movements or programs also happen around the world, it is wise to suggest the collaboration among organizations or communities to reach wider areas for better result. When some of the programs are merely targeting to clean the environment or add an economical benefit such as exchanging plastic with free meal, the Plastic Exchange program has put another value of keeping the dignity of the community through the active involvement in the program in their own area. The combination of keeping the dignity of the people, promoting prosperity and preserving the environment is the attribute that can be spread when Plastic Exchange program is transformed to be a global movement with local wisdom. The following links can be referred for further study of the related programs around the world.

1. Goodbye, Single-use Plastics!
2. Clean Up The World
3. Clean Seas Org
4. How Seabin is helping clean the oceans of plastic waste
5. European Environment Agencies
6. Unilever Rethinking Plastic Packaging
7. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
8. The World 'More Waste, Better Taste'
9. More Waste Better Taste Garbage Offers Food Exchange Plastic
10. In this Philippines village, you can swap plastic waste for rice
11. Drones and AI Are Teaming Up to Tackle Plastic Pollution in Cambodia
12. Garbage-collecting aqua drones and jellyfish filters for cleaner oceans

Internal Research

To gain better understanding of Plastic Exchange Program and its underlying philosophy, in addition to the In-Depth Interview (IDI) that have been conducted with main stakeholders as primary resources, we also conducted further research on media coverage of the program as our secondary resources. Some of the links are as below:

1. Plastic Exchange The Plastic For Rice Movements Grows
2. Bali Plastic Exchange
3. Education Plastic Waste Exchange for Rice at Puri Anyar Kerambitan
4. Plastic for Rice The Bali Game Changer
5. Tri Hita Karana Three Balinese Wisdom Concept

Spin-off

(coming soon)